Guide To Serverless API
Serverless API is trending on the mobile backend development process. Nowadays, many popular server providers like Microsoft, Amazon AWS, etc., are using a serverless architecture. Let’s discuss Serverless APIs in detail with their working and benefits.
Serverless API:
Serverless API is a cloud computing technology where the software is hosted on a cloud similar to a traditional cloud server system.
In normal, cloud hosting is a permanent location where the software is hosted on multiple servers and the data are stored securely.
But in serverless does not mean that server is absent, rather it means the absence of a permanent location. In the traditional method, the users have to pay for their physical cloud location where their data is stored and have to maintain that infrastructure safely.
These are avoided in serverless APIs where the users do not have to manage infrastructure. The servers are created automatically according to their needs and the users will spend less time on their operations.
Working of Serverless API:
Below is the web request process of both traditional server and serverless system:
Traditional Web Request:
1. The server listens and receives the events
2. server is converted into WSGI (Web Server Gateway Interface)
3. After, it hits the application to process the request
4. Finally, the web server responds to a client and resumes its listening process (as from step 1)
Serverless Web Request:
1. Here, the request is received in the API (Application Programming Interface) gateway
2. An own server is created when the API is mapping to the dictionary using VTL (Velocity Template Language)
3. Now, the server converts the dictionary to Python WSGI.
4. This hits the application to execute the request.
5. Now, the app returns it to the API gateway.
6. Finally, the server is destroyed and again a new server is created based on the needs.
This will help you to understand the serverless process.
Serverless apps are event-driven cloud-based systems that are managed by server providers. At the frontend, the event request for the functions to be performed. The user who wants to use the cloud infrastructure will deploy the backend and the entire execution code is taken care of by the server provider.
When the event calls frontend containers which act as Function as a Service (FaaS), the users or vendors act as a Backend as a Service (BaaS) and provides all necessary backend services.
Components of Serverless API:
Now, we have to understand the components of serverless APIs that plays a major part in the deployment process:
1. File Storage:- Whenever the user needs, the static file will be served publicly.
2. Client App:- The client-side is always rendered with a client interface so that you can focus on the static web server to run this client application.
3. User Authentication:- Every user has to sign up or log in to the app to start the service, hence all the user data is saved securely in a serverless system.
4. Database:- Whenever the app runs on serverless architecture, the data is stored in the database, thus all databases are included as a part of serverless architecture.
5. Lambda Function:- Lambda by AWS is acting as FaaS. It is the main component for backend execution. It enables the team to develop, run, and maintain the client app.
Advantages of Serverless API:
1. Low Cost:
The great advantage of using serverless architecture instead of the traditional server method is its cost. Here the user will only pay for the server that is used and need not pay for unused space.
2. Simple Code Execution
With the help of FaaS, the developers find it easy to execute the call to functions and the server providers will take care of the whole code execution, thus the backend process is simplified.
3. Easy Operations:-
With the serverless architecture, the vendor does not need to worry about the server infrastructure management process, thus able to provide the best solution to their clients.
4. Quick Turnaround Time:-
By having few keystrokes, the developers can be free from complicated deployment processes and access the new services easily with simple deployment steps.
Finally:
With the serverless architecture, the developers can develop a mobile app that behaves like a native app. Thus, serverless architecture provides a strong growth in the mobile app development process.
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